Action Alerts

Animal Welfare Institute (AWI): Congress Takes Horse Cruelty Head On!
As of today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN) have taken up the reins of this cause and committed themselves to ending horse slaughter by sponsoring H.R. 6598, the Conyers-Burton “Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act”.

Forest Ethics: There oughta be a law!
Tell British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell to pass a species and ecosystems protection law for over 1600 species at risk in the “best place on earth. Help us show the BC government that in this day and age driving species to extinction is unacceptable. Send your message to BC Premier Gordon Campbell (copied to Environment Minister Barry Penner, and Agriculture & Lands Minister Stan Hagen).

Friends of Animals (FoA): CALL to Action: Reject U.S. Government Proposal to Shoot Horses
Following the latest obnoxious proposal this month from the U.S. government to kill thousands of horses, the international animal advocacy organization Friends of Animals again calls for a full moratorium on the government-sanctioned round-ups, sales and slaughter of free-living horses.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA): U.S. Government Sends Tigers to a War Zone!
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has issued a permit for Conservators’ Center, Inc.—a roadside zoo in Mebane, North Carolina—to send two tigers to the Baghdad Zoo in Iraq.

Stop This Monkey Business: What you can do
In 2003 Nepal allowed the breeding and export of rhesus monkeys for biomedical research. Two US primate centers with their Nepalese partners received a license. As a coalition of eight national and international animal welfare organisations we firmly oppose this monkey business. Please join our fight against the misuse of Nepal’s precious primates!

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle - kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Date: Wed, Jul 23, 2008 at 4:06 PM
Subject: Army Shoots Pigs To Teach Lifesaving Skills

KINSHIP CIRCLE PRIMARY - PERMISSION TO CROSS-POST AS WRITTEN

7/23/08: Army Shoots Pigs To Teach Lifesaving Skills

A pig at rest; photo via JB/John

EMAIL kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net FOR WORD DOC OF A FORMATTED LETTER.
Easily modify letter and copy/paste it into an email or print out to fax or mail.

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Action Alerts

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): Tell Congress: Reject Endless War and a Torture Cover-Up
President Bush and Attorney General Mukasey have a plan to make the entire globe — including the United States itself — a “battlefield” where the president decides who will be locked up forever. The legislation Mukasey is pushing would also subvert the Constitution, authorize indefinite detention, and permanently conceal the Bush administration’s systemic torture and abuse of detainees.

Ecological Internet / The Climate Ark: Biofuels to Turn Kenya’s Rich Tana Delta Wetlands into Ecological Wasteland
Let the Kenyan government know destroying ecosystems for toxic sugar monocultures is unethical, and ask them to please follow their own environmental laws, and permanently cancel the project.

National Wildlife Federation (NWF): Protect America’s Waters–Support the Clean Water Restoration Act
For over 35 years, the Clean Water Act has protected America’s waterways from unfettered pollution and destruction. However, recent Supreme Court decisions and administrative fiats are pushing the Environmental Protection Agency to rollback the regulations designed to protect our nation’s wetlands, ponds, lakes and streams.

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Action Alerts

Center for Biological Diversity: Help Save Ocean Fisheries That Are Under Attack
At a time when fisheries are suffering, and environmental review and public feedback on fisheries management are crucial, the Bush administration is proposing to make an end run around both — which could have catastrophic effects on management of crucial resources such as sea turtles, corals, and valuable fish populations.

DawnWatch: Animal advocate profiles, LA Times front page and sports! 7/22/08
The Los Angeles Times has had two gorgeous profiles on animal advocates in the last few days. The Saturday, July 19 edition had a front page story about Wayne Pacelle, head of the Humane Society of the United States. And today’s Tuesday July 22 edition has a lovely piece in the Sports section, about Johanna McCloy’s “Soy Happy” efforts to get veggie dogs into all the baseball stadiums.

DawnWatch: Mustang killing debate on NY Times front page 7/20/08
The front page of the Sunday, July 20, New York Times includes an article, by Felicity Barringer, headed, “Mustangs Stir a Debate on Thinning the Herd.” Unfortunately the article begins with a focus on arguments from some environmentalists in favor of removing mustangs from federal land. [Note: Thanking the Monkey’s Chapter Seven, “The Greenies” makes clear that we cannot assume that all environmental groups are animal advocates.]

Earthjustice: Tell Congress to Oppose Offshore Drilling
There’s a lot of speculation these days over who is to blame for our rising gas prices. But one thing is for certain: drilling for oil off our coasts won’t get us out of this predicament. Yet the threat of offshore drilling — and its disastrous environmental effects — could become a reality if Congress votes to lift a longstanding ban on new offshore drilling in the coming weeks. We need your help to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Environmental Defense: No to Offshore Drilling, Yes to Energy Innovation
Tell your members of Congress that you oppose lifting the ban on offshore drilling and that you support energy innovation to get us off oil.

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Action Alerts

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): Congress & President Bush are giving away your rights!
Moments after President Bush signed the bill into law, the ACLU filed a lawsuit challenging the unconstitutional FISA Amendments Act. Help us demonstrate to our leaders that we believe in freedom — not fear. We ran a full-page ad in The New York Times on July 17 that carries that simple message.

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): The Terrorist Watchlist is Out of Control
In September 2007, the Inspector General of the Justice Department reported that the Terrorist Screening Center (the FBI-administered organization that consolidates terrorist watch list information in the United States) had over 700,000 names in its database as of April 2007 - and that the list was growing by an average of over 20,000 records per month. Tell Congress: Small, focused watchlists are better for civil liberties and for security.

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): Watchlist Complaint Form: Tell Your Story
If you believe you have been harmed due to a U.S. government watch list, while flying or anywhere else, use this form to share your story. The information you provide in this questionnaire will be kept confidential and only shared with ACLU staff, unless you specify in question 3 how we may share it with others.

Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): Help Support The Great Ape Protection Act
The Great Ape Protection Act (H.R. 5852) has been introduced to end invasive research on the 1200 chimpanzees remaining in laboratories, retire the approximately 600 federally-owned chimpanzees to permanent sanctuary, and make the recent decision by the National Center for Research Resources—part of NIH—to stop funding the breeding of federally-owned chimpanzees statutory.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA): Urge Officials to Clean Up Horrific Conditions at ShanChong Animal Shelter
For several years, PETA Asia-Pacific has been monitoring the government-run ShanChong animal shelter outside Taipei and trying to work with government officials to improve the horrible conditions at the facility. But instead of improving, conditions have continued to deteriorate.

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Action Alerts

Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR): Stop Proposed FBI Guidelines Allowing Racial Profiling!
Recent news reports have revealed that the FBI is planning to release new Department of Justice guidelines, slated for implementation later in the year. These proposed guidelines apparently make racial profiling not only an unwritten practice, but an avowed policy of the FBI.

DawnWatch: Spain Parliamentary committee votes for rights for apes 7/13- 7/17/08
Groundbreaking news from Spain has brought groundbreaking discussion to international media this week. The Spanish Parliament’s environment committee has passed a resolution granting limited rights to great apes.

Environmental Defense: Help Protect Land Conservation Program and Your Tax Investment!
One of the most successful conservation programs in the U.S. is at risk. The USDA is considering the release of 24 million acres of land from the Conservation Reserve Program for commercial use.

I Am Progress/Center for American Progress Action Fund: Keep Your Hands off My Laptop
Customs and Border Patrol at the Department of Homeland Security was just given the green light to search and seize laptops at the border, without probable cause, by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. They can deny entry to anyone who refuses to give up their laptops and password. This is an affront to our progressive values of privacy and protection from unwarranted search and seizure.

In Defense of Animals (IDA): Help Stop Government Plan to Kill Wild Horses
Thousands of wild horses and burros are in danger of being killed at the hand of the same government agency — the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) — which has been mandated to protect them. Almost half of America’s wild horses have been rounded up into holding pens, and they need your voice now to dodge the BLM’s bullet. Please Take Action to help keep wild horses free and roaming on public lands across the West.

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Ladies and gentlemen:

There are times in the history of our nation when our very way of life depends upon dispelling illusions and awakening to the challenge of a present danger. In such moments, we are called upon to move quickly and boldly to shake off complacency, throw aside old habits and rise, clear-eyed and alert, to the necessity of big changes. Those who, for whatever reason, refuse to do their part must either be persuaded to join the effort or asked to step aside. This is such a moment. The survival of the United States of America as we know it is at risk. And even more - if more should be required - the future of human civilization is at stake.

I don’t remember a time in our country when so many things seemed to be going so wrong simultaneously. Our economy is in terrible shape and getting worse, gasoline prices are increasing dramatically, and so are electricity rates. Jobs are being outsourced. Home mortgages are in trouble. Banks, automobile companies and other institutions we depend upon are under growing pressure. Distinguished senior business leaders are telling us that this is just the beginning unless we find the courage to make some major changes quickly.

The climate crisis, in particular, is getting a lot worse - much more quickly than predicted. Scientists with access to data from Navy submarines traversing underneath the North polar ice cap have warned that there is now a 75 percent chance that within five years the entire ice cap will completely disappear during the summer months. This will further increase the melting pressure on Greenland. According to experts, the Jakobshavn glacier, one of Greenland’s largest, is moving at a faster rate than ever before, losing 20 million tons of ice every day, equivalent to the amount of water used every year by the residents of New York City.

Two major studies from military intelligence experts have warned our leaders about the dangerous national security implications of the climate crisis, including the possibility of hundreds of millions of climate refugees destabilizing nations around the world.

Just two days ago, 27 senior statesmen and retired military leaders warned of the national security threat from an “energy tsunami” that would be triggered by a loss of our access to foreign oil. Meanwhile, the war in Iraq continues, and now the war in Afghanistan appears to be getting worse.

And by the way, our weather sure is getting strange, isn’t it? There seem to be more tornadoes than in living memory, longer droughts, bigger downpours and record floods. Unprecedented fires are burning in California and elsewhere in the American West. Higher temperatures lead to drier vegetation that makes kindling for mega-fires of the kind that have been raging in Canada, Greece, Russia, China, South America, Australia and Africa. Scientists in the Department of Geophysics and Planetary Science at Tel Aviv University tell us that for every one degree increase in temperature, lightning strikes will go up another 10 percent. And it is lightning, after all, that is principally responsible for igniting the conflagration in California today.

Like a lot of people, it seems to me that all these problems are bigger than any of the solutions that have thus far been proposed for them, and that’s been worrying me.

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Action Alerts

Defenders of Wildlife: Take Action for Polar Bears and Lower Gas Prices
Weak oversight and accountability in the oil markets allows wealthy investors from around the world to drive up the price we pay for gas, fueling calls for destructive drilling off our coasts and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

National Wildlife Federation (NWF): Encourage Congress to Start Building a Clean Energy Future
President Bush’s decision to lift the executive ban on new offshore drilling is a step backwards in putting America on the path toward progress. America needs energy solutions that reduce global warming pollution, recharge our struggling economy and protect our country’s precious natural resources.

Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Tell the Bush administration to stop the slaughter of gray wolves!
Since the Bush administration stripped gray wolves of their endangered species protection in March, more than 100 have been gunned down outside Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, and hundreds more are being targeted for slaughter. Please tell the Interior Department to do its job of protecting wolves, instead of allowing them to be killed.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA): Tell Baltimore Ravens That Using Live Animals as Mascots Is a Fumble
The Baltimore Ravens are planning to feature live African white nape ravens at upcoming games, and their plans include having a bird fly out of a smoky tunnel ahead of the players. A stadium full of bright lights, screaming fans, and loud noises—including air horns, marching bands, and amplified sound systems—is terrifying and distressing for animals.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA): Urge Vivienne Tam to Ditch Fur
Vivienne Tam knows about the suffering that goes into every fur-trimmed garment, but she continues to contribute to the senseless cruelty to millions of animals in the fur industry. With so many fashionable, comfortable alternatives available today, there is no excuse for Vivienne to continue using the skins of tortured animals in her designs.

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle - kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Date: Mon, Jul 14, 2008 at 2:41 PM
Subject: ACT/ No Downers. No Exceptions. NOW.

KINSHIP CIRCLE PRIMARY - PERMISSION TO CROSS-POST AS WRITTEN

7/14/08: No Downers. No Exceptions. NOW.

EMAIL kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net FOR WORD DOC OF A FORMATTED LETTER.
Easily modify letter and copy/paste it into an email or print out to fax or mail.

LEFT: HSUS, A downer cow left to suffer at auction.

RIGHT: Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer now supports a total ban. Associated Press

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle - kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Date: Sat, Jul 12, 2008 at 3:11 PM
Subject: Next Steps: Volunteer In Future Disasters

KINSHIP CIRCLE ANIMAL DISASTER AID NETWORK
Communicating during disasters to mobilize volunteers, supplies, and other resources for animal victims. www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters

7/12/08: Next Steps: Volunteer In Future Disasters
Over the summer, Kinship Circle Animal Disaster Aid Network is updating its volunteer database to keep your skills and experience on file — in the event we are recruited to directly deploy responders in future disasters. (We do NOT automatically send volunteers to every disaster).

=======================

1. Please Fill Out Attached Volunteer Form!

=======================

Your filled-out form will help us contact and send volunteers more efficiently in future disasters.

1. FILL OUT THE ATTACHED FORM:
www.easyvegan.info/img/KCDisasterAid_VolunteerForm.doc

2. EMAIL IT BACK TO: kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net

3. TYPE IN SUBJECT LINE: KC ANIMAL DISASTER AID NETWORK

(If you do not type this in subject line, your form may be overlooked).

If you are reading this message as a cross-post, not directly from Kinship Circle:

1. You must subscribe to Kinship Circle Animal Disaster Network email list.
2. You may subscribe when sending back your completed form.
3. In your email, type: SUBSCRIBE to KC Animal Disaster Aid Network

NOTE: KC Animal Disaster Aid Network will always remain a news service for anyone interested in animal disaster victims, but not hands-on volunteering.

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Action Alerts

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA): USA: Speak Out Against Plan to Kill Thousands of Wild Horses
In 1971, Congress unanimously passed the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act to stop the mass slaughter and commercial exploitation of these magnificent animals. Unfortunately, in the last few years, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior that administrates the National Wild Horse and Burro Program, has changed leadership and direction—and tragically, wild horses have paid the price.

Audubon: Help Save Our Migratory Birds!
Since its inception in 2002, the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act has provided millions of dollars for vital conservation efforts, including monitoring efforts, habitat restoration, education, and other projects in the United States, Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean. But many essential conservation projects remain unfunded.

Best Friends Animal Society: Join Best Friends to Ask the Obamas to Adopt a Family Dog
It has been reported that once the election is over, the Obamas will be looking for a new four-legged family member (much to his daughters’ delight). The American Kennel Club (AKC) has suggested five types of purebred dogs that would fit the Obamas’ lifestyle. While we don’t disagree that it’s important to choose a dog that matches well with the family, mixed breeds should certainly be considered along with pure breeds. Also, whether purebred or mutt, we believe the Obamas should make a winning choice and adopt a family dog, not buy one. Whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican, left-wing, right-wing or any other wing, please sign our petition urging the Obama Family to adopt, and encourage all your friends and family to sign it, too.

Ecological Internet / The Climate Ark: Dear Al Gore, We Need the Full Truth Regarding Actions Sufficient to Avert Catastrophic Climate Change
Encourage Mr. Gore to tell the full truth regarding the magnitude of actions required for climate change solutions, including advocating for an end to coal and ancient forest logging, and personal sacrifice including reduced consumption.

Humane Society Legislative Fund (HSLF): Where Should that Doggie Come From? Cast Your Vote!
So the Humane Society Legislative Fund has created our own poll. We want you to weigh in on where the Obamas should get their dog after the election—from an animal shelter, a breed rescue group, a pet store, a small breeder, or an Internet seller—and we will forward the results of our survey to the Obama campaign. Vote below to tell us what you think, and don’t forget to forward the survey to your friends and family.

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Seven years ago today, LD and I adopted Ralphie from Dachshund Rescue of North America. At approximately this time 2555 days ago*, the three of us were making the long trek back to Rochester from Jamestown.

Originally from Indiana, Ralphie’s foster Mom Janet met our local DRNA rep Lela at some dachshund parade thingie in Ohio and handed him off to her. We met Lela and her husband - who were traveling with a vanful of wieners, one of which bit Mr. Lela on the lip - at their home in Jamestown, NY to pick the little bugger up. Shane drove home while Ralph and I cuddled in the backseat. I sat on the floor so I could get plenty of Eskimo kisses in.

When we first met him in Lela’s backyard, Ralphie ran away from us, huddling behind Lela - whom he’d only just met a few hours earlier - for protection. By the end of the car ride, we were BFFs. When we got home to our duplex in Fairport, he investigated the place dutifully, and promptly took a shit on the kitchen floor. I was so f’in happy to have my very own dog (he’s our firstborn, you see) that I couldn’t care less.

Seven years later, and he’s still my soul mate.

I love you, buhbie.

Warning: super crazy sweet nostalgia after the jump.

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle - kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Date: Fri, Jul 11, 2008 at 12:01 PM
Subject: Franken-Goats? Say No To Animals As Drug Machines

KINSHIP CIRCLE PRIMARY - PERMISSION TO CROSS-POST AS WRITTEN

7/11/08: Franken-Goats? Say No To Animals As Drug Machines

EMAIL kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net FOR WORD DOC OF A FORMATTED LETTER.
Easily modify letter and copy/paste it into an email or print out to fax or mail.

Some animal biologists say biotech companies oversell the safety of drugs from transgenic animals. Meanwhile, ethicists question whether we should restyle animals as drug producers at all…” Old McDonald had a pharm: www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/06/11/transgenic_goats/print.html
Photo courtesy of Kinship Circle

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Action Alerts

Born Free USA / Animal Protection Institute (API): PETsMART in the News Again — Sale of Sick Bird Blamed for Death of Veteran
PETsMART is in the news yet again for problems related to the sale of live animals. A recent wrongful death lawsuit alleges that PETsMART is to blame for the death of a 63-year-old father and Vietnam War veteran from Texas who died of psittacosis or “parrot fever.” The man died 16 days after his daughter brought home a cockatiel purchased from PETsMART infected with the disease. The daughter also contracted the disease and nearly died. Now the daughter and her family are calling on PETsMART to stop selling all birds.

Born Free USA / Animal Protection Institute (API): End Cruel Live Export of Sheep from Australia to the Middle East for Slaughter
As the world’s largest exporter of sheep, Australia is responsible for the suffering of millions of animals every year. You can help convince Australia’s Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, it is time to make a change. Send a letter calling for an end to the live export of animals for slaughter now.

DawnWatch: Lab chimp retirement on CNN Headline News 7/12/08
Today, Friday, July 11, CNN Headline News is running a wonderful little story about chimps being retired to “Save the Chimps” in Florida: “CNN’s John Zarrella reports on chimps once used for research enjoying island retirement.”

Defenders of Wildlife: Speak Out Against Logging that Threatens Martens and Other Wildlife
The Bush/Cheney has proposed a plan that could increase logging on the Tongass National Forest by 5 times. Such an increase will wreck important habitat for the rare coastal martens on Kuiu and Admiralty Islands and other species that make their home in the forest’s undisturbed old-growth stands.

Greenpeace: anti-whaling activists charged
Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki are charged with stealing a box of whale meat which they presented as evidence of a whale meat smuggling operation. The activists requested a Japanese government investigation into the scandal, and the Tokyo public prosecutor agreed there was sufficient evidence of wrongdoing. His investigation has now concluded. The only persons charged are the Greenpeace activists who presented the evidence. Our activists are innocent of any crime. They have been arrested for returning whale meat that was stolen from Japanese taxpayers, and exposing a fraud that may reach high into the Japanese government agencies that run the whaling program. Please write to the Japanese Prime Minister and Foreign Minister and demand the activists’ immediate release.

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle - kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Date: Thu, Jul 10, 2008 at 1:49 PM
Subject: ACT/ BLM Wants To Kill Wild Horses

KINSHIP CIRCLE PRIMARY - PERMISSION TO CROSS-POST AS WRITTEN

7/10/08: BLM Wants To Kill Wild Horses
EMAIL kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net FOR WORD DOC OF A FORMATTED LETTER.
Easily modify letter and copy/paste it into an email or print out to fax or mail.

Photos via Utah~Dave AA7IZ

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